ch 5 - stress and health

• protective factor for developing stress - older age
• long-term stress is associated with inflammation
• adjustment disorder is very common
• trauma is defined as a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems for a long time
• acute stress disorder is more prevalent in females
• risk factors for PTSD: low social support, female gender, family history of abuse
• those with PTSD are 80% more likely to have comorbidity
• Risk factors for developing stress include genetics, experience of crises, significant life events, individual perception of stressor, and individual stress tolerance
• Protective factors against developing stress include male gender, older age, higher education, economic resources, positive life outlook, self-confidence, and social support
• Key factors in developing stressors include severity, chronicity, timing, degree of impact on life, predictability/level of expectation, and controllability
• The stress response activates the body's Sympathetic-adrenomedullary - SAM system and Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal - HPA system
• Short-term stress compromises the immune system, while long-term stress is associated with global immunosuppression and inflammation
• Adjustment Disorder is a psychological response to a common stressor, with symptoms emerging within 3 months of the stressor
• Acute Stress Disorder is a psychological response to a traumatic stressor, with symptoms lasting at least 3 days and up to 1 month after the traumatic event
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological response to a traumatic stressor, with symptoms persisting for 1+ month(s)
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms include intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and arousal and reactivity symptoms
• Risk factors for developing PTSD include female gender, higher levels of neuroticism, preexisting problems with depression and anxiety, family history of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, and low levels of social support
• Prevention of stress disorders can involve psychological debriefing, advanced preparation of stressors, and treatment options include pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy
• Relationships and PTSD are influenced by higher rates of diagnosis following interpersonal traumas, low social support as a risk factor, and the buffering effects of a supportive environment
• Disclosure of traumatic experiences to an intimate, supportive partner may benefit service members and veterans in processing combat and deployment related experiences
• Various intimate relationship or emotional injuries can be traumatic, with sexual infidelity being a leading cause of divorce and associated with negative impacts such as depression, suicidality, and PTSD symptoms
• About 50% of individuals will experience a traumatic event during their lifetime, with many developing symptoms of PTSD
• In the general population, lifetime rates of PTSD are around 7-9% for clinical levels and 15-20% for subclinical levels